Packaging for use in a decontamination system

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a method of decontaminating a device including a tray. A membrane permeable by a decontaminating fluid is positioned over the top of the tray to form an enclosed space. A lid is secured to the tray and the membrane is positioned between the tray and the lid. A hub assembly is positioned within the tray.

The following is claimed: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use in a method of decontaminating a device with a decontaminating fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a tray having a bottom and sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom to define a cavity; 
 a membrane permeable by the decontaminating fluid positioned over the top of the tray to form an enclosed space; 
 a lid secured to the tray by fasteners with the membrane positioned between the tray and the lid, the lid having a central panel and sidewalls extending downward from the central panel; 
 a hub assembly positioned within the cavity, the hub assembly including a hub extending upwardly from the bottom of the tray and a hub conduit having a first end and a second end adjacent to the membrane; and 
 a lid connector assembly including a lid conduit, the lid conduit having a first end adjacent to the membrane and aligned with the second end of the hub conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid connector assembly and the hub assembly each contain two or more conduits and each lid conduit aligns with a corresponding hub conduit. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the lid conduits has a different diameter than another lid conduit. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hub extends upwardly from substantially a center of the bottom. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane completely encloses the tray. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising: a seal positioned between the first end of the lid conduit and the membrane. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is formed of a first material that is impermeable by the decontaminating fluid and the tray is formed of a second material that is impermeable by the decontaminating fluid. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the hub conduit is attachable to a lumen of the device positioned within the cavity. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a fluid flow path is formed through the hub conduit and the lid conduit and wherein the membrane is within the fluid flow path. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hub assembly further comprises a tube set assembly removably connected to the hub conduit and removably connected to the hub. 
     
     
       11. A method of decontaminating a device with a decontamination fluid, the method comprising:
 placing the device in a tray having a hub conduit connected to a hub extending upwardly from a bottom of the tray; 
 covering at least a top of the tray with a membrane permeable by the decontaminating fluid to form an enclosed space; 
 securing a lid to the tray with the membrane positioned between the tray and the lid and a first end of a lid conduit of a lid port assembly adjacent to the membrane and aligned with a second end of the hub conduit; and 
 positioning the tray with the lid secured into a decontamination chamber. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 introducing the decontamination fluid into the decontamination chamber; and 
 evacuating the decontamination fluid from the decontamination chamber through a flow path formed by a lumen device, the hub conduit and the lid conduit. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lid includes a central panel having a plurality of openings and the decontamination fluid permeates through the membrane and into the enclosed space. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , and further comprising:
 removing the tray from the decontamination chamber after a decontamination process; and 
 storing the tray with the lid removed after the decontamination process. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lid port assembly and the hub assembly each contain two or more conduits and each lid conduit aligns with a corresponding hub conduit when the lid is secured to the tray. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 connecting a first end of each hub conduit to a lumen of the device. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a second end of the lid conduit is connected to a vacuum pump. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the covering at least the top of the tray with a membrane includes completely enclosing the tray within the membrane. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a seal is positioned between the first end of the lid conduit and the membrane. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 removing the hub conduit from the hub after removing the device from the tray.